Messy screen-free fun for toddlers with the added bonus of baked goods!

Coconut Ice

I have a habit of making things about 10 times more complicated than they need to be. I’ve been attempting some pretty complicated baking challenges recently and getting flustered when they don’t turn out 100% perfect.

My kids however still have a beautifully simple and uncomplex way of looking at the world.

Yesterday my nearly 4 year old asked me to play ‘guards’ with her.

“Oooh! Am I a bodyguard on a secret mission or security in a cops and robbers scenario? Maybe a pirate guarding stolen treasure” but no…

“Mammy, your the wee-wee guard”. She literally just wanted me to make sure our youngest toddler didn’t pee on the floor while she made play dough snails…

So I’m throwing it out there, our version of a simple classic: Coconut Ice. So simple your preschooler can crack on while you clean toddler pee out of the carpet…

I’m not a great wee-wee guard…

You will need a large bowl and a small baking tray or 8″ square cake tin, lined with baking paper.

Ingredients

400g icing sugar

300g dessicated coconut

300g sweetened condensed milk

Few drops pink food colour gel or paste

This is simple enough for a toddler to undertake with minimum input but there is some heavy duty stirring involved so you may want to ditch the spoons and get your hands in there. It’s messy but yummy.

In a large bowl combine the icing sugar and coconut and give a brief mix to combine.

Pour on the condensed milk and stir well until the mixture comes together in a very thick, almost dry dough.

Remove half the mixture and press into the lined tray/cake tin.

Add a few drops of pink food colour to the remaining mixture and mix well until it’s completely pink.

Press gently on top of the white layer and chill in the fridge for at least an hour or until firm to touch.

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Benefits

In an attempt to keep the kids happy and quiet I’ve found we spend at least an hour a day in the kitchen. If its not baking its another form of messy play or splashing about with the sink.

At best baking with kids is a stimulating and diverting screen free activity which encourages sensory development and aids knowledge of cause and effect, increases curiosity and is an all round brilliant way to enhance cognitive skills.

At worst its a really messy way to enjoy something yummy- so its win win